William Black Memorial Lighthouse

Heritage listing

Category B Date Added 03/12/2020 Local Authority Argyll And Bute Planning Authority Argyll And Bute Parish Torosay NGR NM 75386 34323 Coordinates 175386, 734323 — Black's Memorial Lighthouse was built in 1900-1901 by the Northern Lighthouse Board to a design by the Glasgow architect, Sir William Leiper (1839-1916), in memory of the celebrated novelist William Black (1841-1898). This automatic, solar-powered light is located 1km to the south-south-east of Duart Point, a rocky promontory at the south-easternmost corner of the island of Mull. The lighthouse marks the entrance to the Sound of Mull, a sheltered seaway separating the island of Mull from the Morvern peninsula of the Scottish mainland. The lighthouse stands around 14m above mean sea level. It is a small gothic tower measuring 9m in height. The tower is built of coursed and bull-faced grey granite stonework, with a rubble base course and ashlar parapet. The plan form of the lighthouse is generally circular but with a slightly taller square tower to the east. A round stair tower on the building's western side has two slit windows and a candle-snuffer roof. At the top of the main lighthouse tower, the parapet is castellated, with a dentilled cornice. The light and associated equipment are mounted on top of the flat tower roof. A door at ground level on the south west side of the stair tower provides access inside the lighthouse building. The doorpiece comprises a moulded segmental-arched opening. Above the door is a metal plaque topped by a triangular pediment. The plaque has an inscription that reads: 'To the dear memory of William Black, Novelist. Erected by his friends and admirers, in many lands, on a spot which he knew and loved.' Legal exclusions In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buil

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.